McLaughlin wins early Democratic backing to succeed Canestrari

In case you missed it in Sunday’s paper, the Albany County Democratic Committee’s candidate-selection panel backed Albany Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin to succeed retiring Assemblyman Ron Canestrari.

Perhaps more significant: If the panel’s recommendation is ratified by the executive committee and the committee’s membership, McLaughlin may be the first African-American candidate ever backed by Albany Democrats for a state office.

(This would, by the way, exclude Comptroller H. Carl McCall, who was not a local candidate.)

Party Chairman Matthew Clyne said he believed it would be the first time that he could recall.

Canestrari’s district covers the vast majority of the city of Albany’s neighborhoods that have minority representation in local government — including McLaughlin, who represented the South End on the Common Council for 12 years before being elected citywide to council president in 2009.

In winning the panel’s recommendation, McLaughlin bested Cohoes Mayor John T. McDonald III — thought by some to be a front-runner because of his close ties to Canestrari (they’re neighbors and Canestrari is also the city’s former mayor) — and one of her own colleagues, Albany Common Councilman Dominick Calsolaro.

Albany resident Marlon Anderson also interviewed for the party’s support.

McLaughlin’s victory shouldn’t necessarily be surprising. Her long record of elected office and service to the party aside, the majority of the 24,337 Democratic voters in the Albany County part of the district are in the city of Albany.

One interesting thread here will be how a candidate from the city of Albany will be received in the Albany County river cities and the Rensselaer County portions of the district: Rensselaer, North Greenbush and South Troy.

The Saratoga County town of Waterford is also in the district but has relatively few Democratic voters.

Another interesting thread is that there’s the potential for the city of Albany to have two Assembly members inside its borders. You’ll recall that last week the Democrats’ candidate-selection panel recommended endorsing County Legislator Frank Commisso to succeed retiring Assemblyman Jack McEneny.

Commisso, of course, is in at least a five-way primary. But three of the other four candidates are also from the city.

It’s early yet, and these endorsements are not final. But it’s shaping up to be an intriguing election season — one that could end with the city of Albany having a little more representation (if not seniority) than it currently has at the Capitol.

“I’ve gotten calls from people in Cohoes congratulating me — from people I don’t even know,” said McLaughlin, who is also the Democratic leader of the city’s 2nd Ward and the Albany County Democratic Committee’s secretary. “Whoever gets elected has to represent the whole district. From Albany to Waterford — everybody deserves to be represented.”

There also could be fallout for next year’s citywide elections. McLaughlin has said she’s running for some kind of citywide office and has been widely discussed as a potential candidate for mayor. But with city Treasurer Kathy Sheehan seemingly ramping up for a mayoral run, McLaughlin has also been discussed as a candidate to succeed Sheehan as treasurer.

If she wins a seat in the Assembly, that could significantly change the landscape for next year’s city elections.

Another interesting side note is that McLaughlin’s sister — 4th Ward Leader Wanda Willingham — was among those who turned out Saturday morning at Democratic HQ on Colvin Avenue to help sway the panel’s 14-3 vote in favor of her sister.

While that’s not surprising, Willingham has been seldom seen around Democratic headquarters since losing her County Legislature seat representing North Albany and Arbor Hill last year to fellow Democrat Merton Simpson.

You will recall that the husband of Carolyn McLaughlin’s sister, county legislator Wanda Willingham, was arrested last fall for ripping off the county. Wanda Willingham’s daughter was charged with welfare fraud. This could be the biggest circus in local politics since Clueless Dan McCoy ascended to the county executive job.

As someone who was interviewed for the endorsement, i can say that the arguement i presented to the committee, and the agenda and issue that i have pushed for sometime now regarding this process was a major contributing factor to this history making endorsement! As I have been advocating for some time now Diversity was and is a key mitigating factor in this process and in this election and I am proud of both my role and the Albany county democratic committee in stepping up and brining the captiol region up to par with the rest of the world!!! In the next few years I hope to see and be part of a sea change in the face of politics in the capitol region!

marlon i am sure your five minutes at the committee made them realize their errors of the past. it only took them 90 years Lol!

Listen, you got what you wanted, and endorsement, nothing more. If she loses the primary to McDs, you will be screaming, once again, how there are no minorities representing the city.

You clowns settle for so little it is almost elementary school predictable what the AC Dems will do and how they appease the opposition. Let me school you:

– To appease white progressives, perform a gay ceremony. Thats all
– To appease black progressives, back a person of color but dont quelch opposition from within the party.
– To appease republicans, offer a few $50k jobs.

Carolyn is a bit more savvy than her thug sister wanda, but just a bit. She is every bit as prejudiced and racist as Wanda with a one issue agenda, minorities. I agree that there are many circumstances where members of the African American community needs special treatment, but not in virtually every issue that is presented for debate.
Carolyn has been a decent President of the Common Council, but she hasn’t done anything as innovative as either Shawn Morris or Helen Desfosses. My vote will be for McDonald in this very weak field of candidates.

#7 you are so right!
#8 two out of three an’t bad!
and if history in albany county stands thier will be democratic committee members working aganist the party like the two sister have alway done what goes around comes around ?

ACS, ive forgotten more than you will ever learn so save your sage advice until you start being publically consulted, and interviewed! Latham guy, never said that diversity was a major qualifacation for holding office, I said, and advocated that diversity was a major need to insure a fair process and better representation of the district! And you are right. Mayor mcdonald will indeed put up a fight, and if carolyn doesnt run a strong campaign he will win and deservedly so. This is a opportunity to make history and begin a sea change in the facer of captiol region politics, but it must be fought for, nto taken for grantedf!and poster 8, Im sorry but I may have a big something to say about your mayoral dream!

Given the number of voting government employees in the district who tend to turn out in respectable numbers for Democratic primaries, I’d say already declaring his crowning in the primary is premature at best.

Marlon, you interviewed with a party who would interview anyone, so put your ego down, not a big deal. And I am sure Carolyn winning a city wide race in a place with 90,000 people and real competition had more to do with getting the nod. McDs walking into office with no opposition in a city smaller than some housing projects in NYC also made the decision a slam dunk. You had nothing to do with it.

Just want to brings things down to earth for Uncrowned King and “former” mayoral candidate.

Poster 11, all too typical, noone of color is ever going to be literate enough otr qualifed enough for you, anywho— ACS, history making diversity in a process that has for its existance lacked it is a VERY BIG Deal, and as i was a driving force behind it, you’ll have to forgive me for patting myself on the back!!! I know its so hard in the captiol region to give me any credit for anything at all, but you cant change historical facts ACS! Marlon Anderson was part of the process, deal with it!!! and latham guy, if your talking about 2013, hopefully people have learned from their mistake in 2009 and they will look for a candidate who actually has stood up and been involved in city issues as opposed to those candidates who will pull a benzie johnson in 2013, suddenly appear out of the ether and announce that they are running for mayor, even though theyve been virtually invisible in the public theatre and on community issues prior to then!

Poster 17, if Carolyn wins, that will be a ccomplishment in itself, but if she accomplishes nothing who is more to blame, her or the people who put her in office! If we are passive in our action, then we have noone to blame but ourselves to quote the broadway play by august wilson “Radio Golf” you have to Hold your representitives to it! and Poster 18. if you think the field will be clear, you dont know albany politics, I forsee at least a half dozen candidate emerging, I only hope that their egos can be quickly checked at the door, because as i said, If youve been invisible for the last four years, why step forward now, and I PERSONALLY, will be holding any such candidate with a invisible record on the issues to account!

ACS, what part of HOLD them to it, didnt you understand? that is the point and our part in this system, if the people we elect dont do or live up to what they advertised themselves to do for us as a elected rep, then it is up to us as the public they serve to hold them accountable! THAT is the major problem in this region, we elect and re-elect people who do nothing, and then wonder why nothing gets done!!! Because we dont do our part thats why! I spoke at last evenings council meeting on that very fact!!!2013 is a election year FOR EVERYONE in City hall, HOLD THEM TO IT!!!

one acs> she meets my requirement for diversity in the process! . she is experienced in politics and is qualifed. 3. she is a lot closer to the real issues and consituency of the 108 than mayor mcdonald in My opinion. and four she is perfect to run a camapign of this nature and she can win! Thats why she has my support ACS!